152 THE MICROSCOPIST. 



into the other and forms the spore. In Sphoeroplea the 

 endochrome of the " oospore " breaks up into segments, 

 which escape as " microgonidia." Each of these have 

 two vibratile filaments, which elongate so as to become 

 fusiform, and at the same time change from red to green. 

 Losing their motile power they become filaments, in which 

 the endochrome, by the multiplication of vacuoles, be- 

 comes frothy. After a time the particles of endochrome 

 assume 1 a globular or ovoid shape, and openings occur in 

 the cell- wall. In other filaments the endochrome is con- 

 verted into antherozoids, each of which is furnished with 

 two filaments, by means of which they swim about and 

 enter the openings of the spore-cells, in which they seem 

 to dissolve away. The contents of the spore-cell then 

 becomes invested with a membranous envelope ; the color 

 changes from green to red ; a second investment is formed 

 within the first, which extends itself into stellate projec- 

 tions. When set free the mass is a true oospore, and 

 ready to repeat the process above described. In GEdogo- 

 nium the antherozoids are developed in a body called an 

 " androspore," which is set free from a germ-cell, and 

 which being furnished with cilia resembles an ordinary 

 zoospore. This androspore attaches itself to the outer 

 surface of a germ-cell, a sort of lid drops from its free 

 extremity, which sets free its contained antherozoids. 

 These enter an aperture formed in the cell- wall of the 

 oospore, and fertilize the contained mass by blending 

 with it. 



Examination of the Higher Cryptogamia. It would en- 

 large this volume far beyond its proposed limits to refer 

 to the particular instances of form or function which the 

 microscope reveals to the systematic botanist or physiolo- 

 gist, nor is this necessary, since well-written treatises on 

 structural botany are quite available. We content our- 

 selves, therefore, in the remainder of this chapter, with 

 pointing out the methods of examination by which the 



